Phonograph record



Sept. 13, 1932 I STURGlS, JR 1,877,079

PHONOGRAPH RECORD Filed April 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 PATENT OFFICE- EDWABD STUIRGIS, JR, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS rnonoenern encore Application filed April 1, 1931. Serial No. 528,915.

My present invention relates to phonograph records, and more particularly to records of the flat disc type, wherein said records are distinguished, or divided into classifications, by distinctive characteristics.

An important object of the present invention resides in providing phonograph records of the flat disc type with distinctive characteristics, either visible, or tangible, or both,

10 whereby the different classifications will be readily discernible.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of said distinctive characteristics so applied to the individual records that a-person may readily discriminate between records of the various classifications, regardless of the position, location, arrangement, or relation of the records one to the other, the characteristics above mentioned being discernible whenever any peripheral portion of the record is visible.

Another object of the invention resides in providing on, or adjacent to, the cabinet in which the records are normally stored, an

identification chart by reference to which the various classifications may be readily and easily identified.

Any desired characteristics, such as colors, combinations of colors, tangible means such as milling, knurling, or combinations of visible and tangible means may be utilized to accomplish the purpose desired.

For illustrative purposes, and as clearly illustrated on the chart shown herein, I have distinguished the records by providing waltz records with a color characteristic consisting of a combination of blue and gold; fox-trots with silver; instrumental records with gold; and operatic records with red.

It will be appreciated and understood that these characteristics are for illustrative and descriptive purposes only, and that any desired color or combination of colors may be utilized for the various classes of records, and that any type of chart may be utilized.

. Records thus distinguished may be easily classified and kept in their proper or respective groups, and this in turn will make it an easy matter for a person to select a specific 0 record of a given type or classification.

I have also illustrated, in the drawings of the present application, tangible distinguishing characteristics, such as milling and knurling, and it will be'appreciated and understood thatthese tangible characteristics may be extended to cover a range of classifications similar to that set forth above with respect to the visible characteristics.

By means of my invention, records ma not only be segregated or divided into classlfications as above described, but the records produced by various manufacturers could be distinguished in this manner.

I believe that my invention, as above briefly outlined, is novel, and have therefore claimed the same broadly in the present application.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a record of the flat disc type wherein the ungrooved peripheral margin, as well as the extreme outer edge, is provided with a visible characteristic consisting of the color blue;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a record wherein the peripheral margin and edge are provided with contrasting colors and designs, the contrasting colors here illustrated being red and blue;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a record provided with a tangible characteristic, here shown as milling;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a record illustrating a combination of the 85 tangible characteristic, milling, and a visible characteristic, the color blue;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a record illustrating the contrasting colors, blue and gold;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional phonograph cabinet with a tiltable storage bin wherein the records are divided into their classifications;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a stack of 95 records indiscriminately assorted;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of an indiscriminate stack of records on a table; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the classification chart illustrated on the cabinet of Fig. 6. 1m

Ref rring now to the drawings, for a particular description of the invention, 1 designates a conventional phonograph record of the fiat disc type, having a grooved sound reproducing portion 2, and an ungrooved portion 3 ad acent to the centering aperture 4. The ungrooved portion 3 is provided for manufacturers names, name of record, and other indicia, it also having been found impractical to extend the sound reproducing grooves to the extreme center of the record in View of the relative slowness of linear travel of the said grooves. On the surface of the record, between the grooved portion 2 and the extreme peripheral edge of the record there is provided an ungrooved margin 5, and 1t 1s this portion of the record, as well as the outer edge 6, which I utilize 1n carrying out my present invention.

As heretofore stated, I may provide the eripheral ungrooved margin 5, on either or both surfaces of the record, as well as the edge 6, with distinctive characteristics, either vis ible, or tangible, or both, by means of which a person is enabled to immediately distinguish the different classes of records identified by said characteristics, and to discriminate therebetween.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated the record 1 provided with the color blue on the peripheral ungrooved margin, as well as on the extreme outer edge of the record. On reference to the chart desi nated as 7, it will be apparent that the recon? in Fig. 1 is of the popular vocal type. The record illustrated in Fig. 5 as 8 is provided with contrasting blue and gold colors and on reference to the chart 7 it will be readily apparent that this record is of the waltz type. The record designated at 9 in Fig. 7 is provided with ared color characteristic, and on reference to the chart 7 it will be noted that this record is of the operatic type.

In the stack illustrated in Fig. 8, it will be readily apparent that the selection of a given type of record is an extremely simple matter, even to one unfamiliar with the classifications. By simply referring to the chart 7 one is enabled to readily distinguish the fact that all records designated by the numeral 10 belong to the general classification of operatic records, these being distinguished by the color red applied as above described; that all records designated by the numeral 11 are of the popular vocal type, being distinguished by the blue characteristic; that all records designated by the numeral 12 are of the foxtrot type, as disclosed by their silver characteristic; that the record 13 is of the instrumental type, its characteristic being gold and all records designated by the numeral 14 being of the waltz type, the characteristic of these records being the alternating and contrasting blue and gold colors.

When stored in a suitable place, such as the bin 15 of the phonograph cabinet 16, the recnearer/a ords are preferably filed in their respective classes. The chart 7 is placed in a convenient and visible location, and thus, at a glance, one is enabled to readily distinguish the fact that the records indicated at 17 are all of the popular vocal type, those designated at 18 are of the instrumental type, those designated at 19 are of the operatic type, while those reprethe segregation and distribution of the rec-- ords 17 to 21 inclusive.

By referring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, it will be readily apparent that, regardless of the position of the records, or the arrangement of same, or the relation of said records one with another, it requires but a glance at the row or stack of records to distinguish between the types or classes thereof. The advantages of this feature will be instantly obvious,

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a record 24, on the edge and peripheral margins of which I have combined contrasting colors and design features. The showing of Fig. 2, as will be understood, is for illustrative purposes only, and there is no limitation as to the size, shape, or arrangement of the designs and contrasting colors.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I have illustrated a form of tangible distinguishin characteristic, wherein the peripheral sur ace margin 5, on either one or both sides of the record 25, together with the edge 6, are provided with milling, of suficient depth and extent to identify the record to the touch. This feature of tangible characteristics has a considerable range, as milling may be utilized as the characteristic of one class, while another class of record may be distinguished by knurling, and still other classes of records distinguished by other shapes, forms, or designs of tangible characteristics.

The range of utility of my invention may be still further broadened by combining the visible and tangible characteristics, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4. In this fi re the record 26 is illustrated as provided with milling on its edge and marginal surfaces, as well as with a blue color combined with said milling, this being but one example of the many combinations of visible and tangible characteristics made possible by my invention The color or-visible characteristics, as well as combinations thereof, and the tangible characteristics, together with the combinations of visible and tangible characteristics, shown and described herein, are for illustrative purposes only, and I do not, therefore,

predetermined 4 too ord, said distinguishing means extending entirely around the record whereby the exposure of any marginal portion of the record is sufiicient to indicate the character of the composition recorded on the record.

2. A phonograph record having a marginal distinguishing means in the form of a color band indicative of the character of the comhand extending entirely around the record whereby the exposure of any marginal portion of the record is suflicient to indicate the character of the composition recorded on the record.

3. A phonograph record having a marginal distinguishing means in the form of a band of alternate depressions and projections indicative of the character of the composition recorded on the record, said band extending entirely around the record whereby the exposure of any marginal portion of the record is sufficientto indicate the character of the composition recorded on the record.

4. Means to facilitate the selection from a number of phonograph records of a record on which is recorded a composition of a given character, comprising a distinguishing means 7 applied to each record, the distinguishing means applied to all records on which are recorded compositions of the same character being the same and different from the distinguishing means of all records on which are recorded compositions of a different character, the distinguishing means of each record being applied marginally thereto and extending entirely therearound whereby the exposureof any marginal portion of any record is sufiicient to indicate the character of the composition recorded on that record.

5. Means to facilitate the selection from a number of phonograph records of a record on Y which is recorded a composition of a given character, comprising a distinguishing means in the form of a color band applied marginally to each record, the bands applied to all records on which are recorded compositions of the same character being of the same color scheme and different from the color scheme of the bands of all records on which are recorded compositions of a diiferent character, the color band of each record extending entirely therearound whereby the exposure of any marginal portion of any record is sufficient to indicate the character of the composition recorded on that record.

6. Means to facilitate the selection from a number of phonograph records of a record on which is recorded a composition of a given character, comprising a distinguishing means in the form of a band composed of alternate depressions and projections applied marginally to each record, the depressions and projections of the bands applied to all records on which are recorded compositions ofthe same character having the same relative arrangement which is difierent from the relative arrangement of the depressions and projections of the bands of all records on which are recorded compositions of a diflerent character, the band of each record extending en tirely therearound whereby the exposure of any marginal portion of any record is sulficient to indicate the character of the composition recorded on that record.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD STURGIS, JR. 

